Boehner: I Agree With Tea Party '90% of the Time'

House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama in the White House on Sept. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

(CNSNews.com) - House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) says he has “no problem” with the Tea Party and that he agrees with them "90 percent of the time.”

Boehner appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night and told the host, “I don’t have any problem with the Tea Party. Those people have brought great energy to the political process, most of them have never been involved before.”

“When you agree with someone 90 percent of the time they’re not your enemy, “ Boehner continued.

Earlier in the interview Boehner described himself as “right of center” in characterizing his relationship with President Barack Obama.

“We get along fine. But, you know, we come at our jobs from a very different perspective. I’m right of center, I think he’s way left of center.”

Last month the organization Tea Party Patriots released a fundraising e-mail criticizing Boehner for supporting the recent passage of a budget deal that continues to fund ObamaCare.

In advance of the December vote, Boehner was critical of conservative groups campaigning for the budget measure's demise. The House Speaker told reporters at a press conference, "I just think they've lost all credibility."

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